Survival Pecan Pie Cheesecake

Here is the recipe for the Pecan Pie Cheesecake that made it to Thanksgiving.

 

Survival Pecan Pie Cheesecake

1 (2-lb) frozen pecan pie
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2(8-oz) packages cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
2/3 cups sour cream
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
1 TBL all-purpose flour

Thaw pie at room temperature 30 minutes. Cut pie into 16 wedges, they will be small, and set aside. Pie will be still be partially frozen after thawing 30 minutes; this ensures cleaner slices.

Stir together 2 cups graham cracker crumbs and next 2 ingredients; press mixture onto bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of a 10-inch spring form pan.

Arrange pie wedges in a spoke design in prepared pan (I was able to fit all of the wedges in except 1….just as well because you might need a little snack by now), placing 1 cut side of each wedge on crust with narrow end towards center of pan.

Beat cream cheese until smooth; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Add sour cream, half-and-half, and vanilla; beat until blended. Stir in powdered sugar and flour, stirring until smooth. Carefully pour cream cheese mixture evenly over pie wedges in pan, making sure wedges remain in place.

Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes. Turn off oven, and let cake stand in oven 1 hour. Remove to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Chill at least 8 hours or overnight before serving.

I was just proud that I was able to get the cheesecake out of the spring form pan AND remove the bottom of it AND get it onto this cake pedestal without it breaking apart!

I didn’t get a picture of this once it was sliced into, but here is one that I found on the web (below from BakeorBreak on Flickr)

 

I also made the Old Fashion Fudge pie that I blogged about back HERE.

 

So, we (Kenny and I) were heading out to Fordland, MO for Thanksgiving and when we went outside to load up we were welcomed by this….yes, FREEZING RAIN!

 

 

Of course, Kenny had to make Lonnie and Cleopatra their special Thanksgiving treat platters before we left…..

……which they were anticipating…..

 

The roads didn’t seem all that bad……slushy…..but, I guess the temperature kept dropping and at one point, when we were on the highway we started hydroplaning and swerved back and forth across two lanes for probably 1/4 – 1/2 mile and ended up doing a 360 and then finally coming to a stop in the passing lane. 

(Nascar pic for the North Carolina cousins)

At this point, we just looked at each other like “what the heck!”…..we were soooooo lucky….we didn’t hit anyone….no one hit us….as we looked around there were several cars in the ditch and one car, who probably saw what happened to us, pulled off onto the shoulder and the woman got out of the driver’s seat and the man got it…..I totally would have done the same thing!

This is when I saw Kenny’s NASCAR skills come into play…..I’ve never seen anyone work a steering wheel like he did!

After we got going again, I looked at Kenny and said, “well, the cheesecake made it” ….. it was still intact on it’s pedestal which I was holding between my knees in the truck….he just looked at me and laughed, “thank goodness for that”.

Thanksgiving was great….turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, the best macaroni and cheese ever!….apple salad, pumpkin pie, cousins in from North Carolina….it was all so good!

As we were leaving, Kenny hollered at the sheep up on the hill and they came barreling down to greet us…..

Thankfully, the ride home was drama free! Now that’s what I call THANKSgiving!